Manufactuered by Roche, Valium is a benzodiazepine derivative that is in the anti-anxiety agent drug class. The well known generic name for Valium is diazepam, which is represented by such brands as Ativan, Alcelam, Alplax, Alpram, Alprax, Alprazolam Intensol, Alzolam, Anpress, Ansiopax, Pharnax Prinox Ralozam, Tafil, Trankimazin, Tricalma, Zacetin, Zanapam, Zenax, Zolarem, Zoldac, Zoldax and Zotran.
On the street, Valium is known as candy, downers, sleeping pills and tranks. It is a Schedule IV drug that is prescribed for anxiety disorders and the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety. It is also used to relieve the symptoms of acute alcohol withdrawal, skeletal muscle spasm, control involuntary movement of the hands, to relax tight muscles and when combined with other medications, to treat convulsive disorders such as epilepsy.
Abuses of Valium
Valium is a prime drug of choice for some as it depresses the nervous system and is both physically and psychologically addicting. When the drug is used chronically, it has a high potential for abuse. Tolerance for Valium can be built quickly and those who become addicted may find it very difficult to discontinue use.
Those who intentionally abuse Valium also tend to have other substance abuse problems. In fact, Valium is often used to offset the high achieved from another drug or to diminish the adverse effects of other drugs. Even legitimate use however, carries a risk of addiction and dependence.
Effects of Valium
The effects of Valium generally set in within 30 minutes of oral ingestion or one to five minutes after injection. The medicine works by increasing a chemical in the brain that acts as a sedative. Valium is also used in certain situations where an individual is trying to withdraw from shorter acting benzodiazepines such as Xanax and Ativan.
Valium does present certain side effects when used in any situation, including drowsiness, abdominal cramps, clumsiness, blurred vision, dry mouth, fatigue, light-headedness, heart palpitations, slurred speech, difficulty breathing, convulsions, hallucinations, amnesia, difficulty breathing, loss of muscle coordination, trembling, headache and confusion.
Withdrawal of Valium
Even as Valium is used to treat withdrawal symptoms in the cessation of other medications, it can still cause withdrawal symptoms on its own when a person has been taking the medication for a long period of time or beyond safely prescribed levels. An abrupt cessation is likely to induce some uncomfortable and potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms.
Withdrawal symptoms associated with Valium can include, but are not limited to:
• Dizziness
• Personality changes
• Sensitivity to sound or light
• Numbness or tingling
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• A rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
• Heart palpitations
• Hallucinations
• Memory loss
• Panic attacks
• Seizures
• Fever
• Headaches
• Anxiety
• Tension
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Restlessness or irritability
• Confusion
• Sweating.
Treatment of Valium Addiction
A person with a Valium addiction should never abruptly stop taking the drug and should instead stop using it slowly. It is imperative that Valium addicts seek specific care from a board-certified physician and board-certified addiction psychiatrist. An addicted individual needs to rid their body of the drug completely. To have a better chance of staying off Valium in the future, entering a center for 24/7 comfortable detox treatment is highly recommended.
This method is used to correct the chemical imbalances in the individual suffering from a Valium addiction and should be combined with psychological evaluations and other medical care to address cravings for the drug. With this type of method, the center is able to identify the reason for the addiction, increasing the individual’s chances for staying off the drug. Customized treatment is developed in order to treat the whole person and not just the symptoms.